The Best Mistake

Chapter Twelve

"Are you quite done ignoring me yet?" Julia asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Good morning to you too." I said.

"Did I do something to offend you?"

"No Julia, I'm okay." I said.

"Ava cut the bullshit, something is going on."

Julia moved to block me from entering the elevator and I sighed. All I wanted to do was to go to my desk and get my work done in peace.

"Julia I have a lot of work to do today, can you please move?" I asked annoyed.

"Not until you tell me what's up." She folded her arms and arched her brow.

"I have a lot going on in my head, which I will tell you later when I'm ready. Now please, move." I said.

She hesitated for a moment before slowly stepping to the side. I stepped pass her and into the elevator.

"This isn't over." She warned as the elevator closed.

I Iet out the breath I didn't realized I was holding and leaned against the wall as the elevator ascended. I had way to much going on in my head to deal with Julia right now. It's not that I don't want her to know, it's just too much to explain again. Julia just found out that my girls aren't Royce's and that was a shock on its own. If I reveal who their biological father could be, I'd never hear the end of it. Once the elevator opened I quickly moved to my desk to put my things down. I grabbed the envelope out of my bag and went to Caleb's door.

"Knock knock." I said knocking.

"Hey Ava, come in." He said.

I entered the office and approached his desk with a small smile. Caleb looked at me closely.

"You look good today, how are you?" He asked.

"Good."

Caleb has been watching me closely since my panic attack a few days ago. Although I didn't tell him what or rather who triggered it, he was still worried that I was putting up a front, which I am.

"I read over the chapter like you asked and did my reviews." I handed him the envelope.

"That's great. You finished it faster than I expected."

"Well it was a needed distraction. It's good." I said.

"I was counting on it. I don't normally go for writers close to home, but she's pretty impressive."

"She's here in Vancouver?"

"Nah, Seattle." He said

All he had to do was say the name and I felt sick instantly. Why is this situation affecting me so much? I took a deep breath before releasing it slowly.

"You alright?" He asked immediately alerted.

"Um, yea, I'll just be at my desk." I said.

"Ok..." He said.

I exited his office before he could say anything else and went to sit by my desk. I quickly got to work looking through my emails and noting anyone who was trying to get in contact with Caleb. You'd be surprised by the amount of emails I go through and meetings I have to set up. If I'm not sure about a person I always consult Caleb before scheduling anything. One minute I was going through emails and organizing meetings and the next I was on google searching the last family I expected to, The Reynolds. The Reynolds family looked much as I expected, like Caleb they were all gorgeous, prim and proper. It's obvious that they were glorified in society and took their family name very serious. The head of the family and founders of most of their companies are Charles Audley Reynolds and Marie Anne Reynolds. Charles was the father of Mason and Caleb. He looked tall, serious and very strict. Mr. Reynolds founded their companies from IT, to cars and later to airlines. Caleb wasn't joking when he said he looked more like his dad. He had his eyes, hair color and the same no nonsense look. Charles's wife and their mother, Marie stood beside her husband with a proud smile. I can tell from her photo she was relaxed and elegant. Marie founded Reynolds interior designs and had invested in many cooking shows and restaurants. I smiled gently looking through her pictures, she looked a lot like Mason, therefore she looked a lot like my girls. Deep green eyes, reddish brown hair and a smile that would bring any man to his knees. The next person I noticed was their sister, Regina Lively Reynolds Webber. She was the perfect mix of her father and mother and looked like your typical girly girl. She was married with a four year old son, Jarvis. Regina founded the cosmetics side of the Reynolds business, no surprise there. Regina was responsible for launching her own fashion designs, makeup and hair care products. Her clothing line alone brought in 30% of the Reynolds money and she was the same age as me. Impressive. Last, but not least, Mason Lloyd Reynolds. My heart picked up staring at his picture, full pouty lips and dark green eyes deeper than a forest staring back at me. I saw the face of my daughters, the face of my nameless stranger and smiled. Mason was in charge of the IT side of the Reynold businesses. Security systems, cell phones, laptops and many other devices. He's also responsible for the building part of the Reynolds companies, building several homes and business offices for the family. Mason was beyond intelligent and obviously the apple of his father's eyes. He was seen with his father in many pictures. I wonder why Caleb pulled away from his family? He doesn't talk about them and I don't hear him talking to anyone in his family. Caleb was in charge of the Publishing side of the family business of course. He only deals with writing and publishing new authors, as well as a few plays, movies and magazines. He wasn't kidding when he said he is a busy man. The entire Reynolds family is beautiful, successful, rich and very well known. They operated beyond a normal family status, they were a dynasty indeed. While going through Mason's photos, I reluctantly noticed a brown eyed brunette that stood by his side. Chasity Darrell the daughter of Albert Darrell who is the owner of D an D's law firm. Chasity was a lawyer and partner in her father's law firm and fits in with what the Reynolds family stand for. It's no wonder he chose her. What am I doing? Here I am doing all kind of research on a family that I know nothing about. Am I really willing to get in the midst of this family? They were practically an empire for heavens sake. I wouldn't fit in at all and I wouldn't be surprised if they accuse me of trying to get money from them. The more I read the further I pushed away from my decision to tell Mason. He was happy and enjoying his life. How could I possibly disrupt that? The last thing I need is for me and the girls to be in the public's eye negatively...